January Round-Up

Colchester United had a productive month during the course of January, with a number of moves in and out of the club during the transfer window.

The month was the first time that boss Tony Humes could really begin to stamp his mark on the team and he wasted no time in moulding the squad during the last few weeks.

The loan window of course re-opens in a week's time, so more activity may happen once dealings get underway once again.

. It wouldn't be the last time that the Urchins were involved in transfers with the U's in January.for a month to AFC HornchurchAnd it was a loan that got January underway, with Dom Smith - who made his debut in Tony's first game in charge away to Walsall - heading out

until the end of the season to stay with the U's.extended his contract
David Fox had made a big impression in the heart of midfield since arriving at the end of 2014 and he

The U's were busy with contracts during the month of January and perhaps one of their most important dealings came two days before the trip to Peterborough United.

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join the Wirral club on January 28thOn the same day, Josh Thompson extended his loan with Tranmere Rovers and the big centre half, who found his time with the U's hampered by injuries, eventually left the U's to

to join Wycombe Wanderers in League Two.
Marcus Bean leaving
But whilst he committed his future to the U's, another midfielder departed the U's on the same day, with .contract cancelled with the Blades
Chris Porter, who had been with our League One rivals Sheffield United, joined on a permanent basis after having his

And a further new face in the forward department arrived two days later on January 22nd as the U's prepared for the visit of Leyton Orient.

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U's striking ranks and Jack Marriott arriving on loan until the end of the season to boost the extending his loan
It was the first of three transfer dealings with Town in the transfer window, with Elliott Hewitt

on a two and a half year contract.
signed for Ipswich Town
That interest came to a head on January 16th, when Freddie

Striker Freddie Sears scored in that win at the ABAX Stadium, taking his total to 14 for the season. So it was perhaps unsurprising that he was the subject of plenty of interest in January.

against the Posh, helping the U's to a 2-0 win.
the morning of the game
Alex Wynter had enjoyed a productive loan spell at the end of the 2013/14 campaign and, after spending the first half of the season with Portsmouth, became a full time U's player on

It was a busy couple of days, with the U's bolstering their defence ahead of that game against Peterborough.

and both made their debuts in a crucial 2-0 win over the O's at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.
Millwall defender Matthew BriggsHis arrival was swiftly followed by that of

, joining on an eighteen month contract as he too looked to take the next step in his own professional career.
to a permanent switch
Meanwhile, Jamie Harney converted his loan move from West Ham

and both have now signed for AFC Hornchurch as they get their senior careers up and running.
contracts cancelled by mutual consent
Billy Roast and Nnamdi Nwachuku both had their

As Matthew and Chris' Col U careers got underway, two young players saw their time with the U's come to a close.

. The Latvian international had helped the U's to five clean sheets in his time at the club.two months in north Essex
First, Kaspars Gorkss opted to move to Greece after

Ahead of the final game of the month at Bradford, there was a further flurry of activity.

on loan until the end of the season.Dan Holman joined Dover Athletic
And, whilst the U's hunt for an extra defender will move into the upcoming loan window, there was one final move for the U's in January, as

as his contract was terminated by mutual consent.
brought to an end
Craig Eastmond's career with the U's was

And, as Kenny arrived from north London, the transfer window concluded with another north London recruit leaving the club.

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Tottenham man's signatureMeanwhile, Kenny McEvoy joined the U's on loan until the end of the season after a lengthy pursuit for the